Wire uncoiling apparatus



y 1943' I c. R. ROHWEDER 2,319,828

WIRE UNCOILING APPARATUS Filed qul 11, 1941 Patented May 25, 1943 WIRE UNCOILING APPARATUS Charles R. Roliweder, Belmont, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application July 11, 1941, Serial No. 401,945

(Cl. 24Z128) 14 Claims.

This invention relates to wire uncoiling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for utilizing wire in loosely wound coil form.

Wire after its manufacture is customarily formed into loosely wound coils the convolutions of which are laid more or less at random, with the result that the convolutions of each coil are not of uniform diameter nor are they all concentric to the axi of the coil. Thi renders it difficult to withdraw the wire from such coils because of the non-uniformity of the convolutions which are sometimes not easily separated from one another so that the wire kinks and otherwise interferes with the smooth operation of the mechanism employed in withdrawing the wire from the coil.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus particularly adapted for use in facilitating the withdrawal of wire from loosely wound coils of the above-mentioned character. For the purpose in View, there is provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, means which acts during the uncoiling of the wire to loosen each convolution of wire from the remainder of the coil, thus causing the wire to be withdrawn from the coil a single convolution at a time so that snarling or kinking of the wire is substantially avoided. This means, herein illustrated, comprises a rotatable take-ofi arm the inlet end of which is arranged to be vibrated by the action of the wire thereon in the uncoiling operation, the vibratory action of the inlet portion acting to loosen each convolution of the wire as it is uncoiled.

' In another aspect, the invention provides a novel take-oft arm having outlet and inlet portions relatively movable to accommodate the arm to varying widths and eccentricities of the convolutions of wire in coils formed in the manner above described. In the illustrated construction. the outlet and inlet portions of the take-ofi arm are connected by a flexible resilient portion which permits the inlet end portion to move relatively to the outlet portion in any direction transversely of the wire and by reason of its resiliency causes the inlet portion to vibrate in the uncoiling of the wire by reason of the action of the wire on the inlet portion.

The above and other features of the invention will now be more particularly described. by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section of one form of apparatus in which the present invention may be embodied; and

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

A coil of wire I0 is supported in a frame [2 which comprises a lower supporting plate [4 on which the coil of wire rests and a cover plate l6 for protecting the coil of wire from dirt, etc. The plates l4 and i6 are maintained in spaced relation by a circular wall l8 secured to and depending from the plate l6. Welded or otherwise secured to the interior of the wall [8 near its lower end is a plate 20 carrying pins 22 adapted to register with and pass through holes 24 in the lower plate [4 to facilitate assembly of the plates. A post 26 secured to the plate 20 and the top plate to extends upwardly and has a reduced portion 28 projecting above the top platel6. The lower end of the post 26 is threaded to receive a nut 30 for securing the parts of the frame l2 together after a coil of wire has been placed therein. In placing a coil of wire in the frame, the plate I6 is inverted and the coil of wire placed thereon around the circular wall l8, after which the lower plate 14 is secured thereto by the nut 30 and the entire assemblage then turned right side up into the position shown in Fig.2.

The wire-supporting frame I2 is supported in a base 32 which, as shown, comprises a pair of crossbars 34 and 36 provided with'feet 38. Extending upwardly from the bars are posts 40 to the upper ends of which, is secured a ring 42 thereby to form a rigid structure. The lower end of the post 26 below the threaded portion i reduced in diameter at 44 to .fit into a hole formed at the intersections of the bars 34 and 36 thereby to determine the position of the frame 12 in the base 32.

The wire is drawn from the coil [0 through a. rotatable, tubular take-off arm 46 which is secured at its upper end to a spindle 48. This spindle is journaled on the reduced upper end portion 28 of the post 26, and the lower end of the spindle is flanged at 49 and rest upon a boss 50 extending upwardly from the cover plate [6. To prevent upward movement of the spindle 48 relative to the post 26 a spring latch 52 secured to the boss 50 engages the upper surface of the flange 49. The take-off arm 46 extends downwardly and outwardly and has its lower end portion curved, as shown, to extend into the annular space formed between the ring 42 of the base and the cover plate l6.- The lower end of the take-01f arm is substantially concentric with the ring 42 and the coil of wire I 0, as indicated clearly in Fig. 1. As the wire is drawn from the coil l through the take-01f arm 46 the take-off arm and the spindle 48 rotate about the axis of the post 26 by reason of the pull of the wire on the arm 46, thus causing the lower end portion of the arm to move in a circular path around the periphery of the coil it.

For purposes of the present invention, the rotatable take-oif arm 56 has its lower end portion or intake end made flexible and resilient so that it may accommodate itself to the varying width wise and heightwise positions of the difierent convolutions of wire as they are uncoiled. The

convolutions of the wire forming the coils for tions of each coil are not all concentric to the axis of the coil nor are they all of uniform diameter. As a result of this, the convolutions are somtimes not asily separated from one another, rendering it diflicult to withdraw the wire from the coils. As illustrated herein, a coil spring 58 is formed at the intake end of the take-on arm which is yieldable in all directions relative to the take-off arm and will move horizontally, as indicated by the broken line positions of the spring in Fig. 1, from the normal position represented by'full lines, in response to changes in the position of the wire widthwise of the coil as the wire is removed therefrom. Similarly, as the, height- A wise position of the wire relative to the coil varies, the spring will move, as indicated by the broken line positions in Fig. 2, from the normal heightwise position indicated by the full lines. By thus accommodating itself to sudden changes in the'position of the wire as it enters the take-oil arm, the spring avoids sharp bending of the wire at 'alltimes as the wire leaves the coil. The ten- 'sion of the spring acts on the wire tending to separate each convolution of the wire as it is withdrawn, thus greatly facilitating its removal from the'coil, Thevariations inthe diameters of the convolutions of wire and their unsymmetrical disshaking .of the wirecaused by the vibration ofthe spring assists in loosening each convolution of the wire fromthe remainder of the coil as the wire iswithdrawntherefrom, thus reducing the tendency of lifting more than one convolution of the wire from the coil at any time. This prevents kinking of the wire and minimizes the load imposedon the mechanism which withdraws the wire from the coil, thereby greatly facilitating the uncoiling of the wire. To. the outer end of the spring -54 is secured a short metal ring 56 which prevents wear between the wire and the outer end of the spring, thereby increasing the life of the apparatus. The arm 46 and the ring 56 thus constitute a take-off arm composed of relatively movable intake and outlet end portions to accommodatethe arm to varying widths and eccentricities of the convolutions of wire in the coil. The spring 54 forms a flexible resilient connection between the inlet and outlet end portions permitting the inlet end to move in any direction transverselyto the wire and to vibratein response to wire from the loosely wound coils by reducing the effort required in removing the wire from the coil. It also permits the use of such a coil with a machine to which it has heretofore been customary to feed the wire from tightly wound reels. Inasmuch as the tightly wound reels are more expensive than the loosely wound coils this apparatus permits a reduction in the cost of operation of such machines. It will be apparent that the take-off arm described above may be employed With other forms of wire-supporting apparatus thanthat disclosed herein.

Having thus dsecribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A wire uncoiling apparatus comprising a "support fora coil of wire, a tubular take-oil arm mountedto rotate about an axis substantially central of a coil of wire on the support, said takeoff arm havinga flexible resilient intake end, whereby said end is adapted to deviate from a circular path around the coil of wire in response to rotation of the take-01f arm about said axis in the uncoiling operation.

; 2. A wire uncoiling apparatus comprising a support for a coil of wire, a tubular take-off arm mounted to rotate about an axis substantially central of a coil on the support, the lower end of said take-oft arm being arranged to move around the coil of wire in response to rotation of the take-ofi arm in the uncoiling operation, and means at the intake end of said take-off arm arranged to be vibrated by the action of the Wire thereon and thusto assist in loosening each convolution of the wire as it is uncoi-led.

3. A wire uncoiling apparatus comprising a support for a coil of vvire, a tubular take-off arm mounted to rotate .about'anams substantially central of -a coil onthe support, the intake end of said take-oif arm being arranged to move around the coil of wire in response to rotation of the take-elf armin the uncoiling operation, and a coil spring at-the intakeend of said'take-otf I arm through which wir e passes from said coil.

the action of the wire thereon during the uncoilv e a Wire matin e apparatus ccmpnsmg a support for a coil of w"' e, tubular take-off arm mounted torotate asset an'axis substantially central of a coil ongtli suppoi t, the intake end of said take-off being arranged to move around the coilo'f wire in response to rotation of thetake-oif arm in theuncoil'ing operation, a

coil spring at theintake end of said take-off arm through which wire passes from said-coil, and a metallicring at. the outer end of said spring forming awear-res isting surface, over which the wire passes. I e i 5, A wire uncoiling apparatus "comprising a support for a-coil of wireja pc'st secured to said support andris'i'fig femreny therefrom, a spindle journaled on said pestle takej ofi arm secured to the upper 'en'd' of sai'd Spindle and extending downwardly andou'inva'rdly, thelower end of said take-off arm being; arranged for movement aroundth e coilof wire on tiie'sup drt miesponse to rota'tion of the take-err an mthe uncoiling operation; and a coil spring-atthe-lower end of the take-off arm arranged to be' vibrated by the action of the wire thereon and-thusto assi'stin loosening each convolutie J it is -uncoi1'ed.- r

6. A wire unc'oiling apparatus comprising a support for a coil of wire, a post secured to" said support and rising centrally therefrom; a spindle '7. journaled 'on said post, atake-pfi armsecured to the upper end of said spindle and extending downwardly and outwardly, the lower end of said take-oil arm being arranged for movement around the coil of wire on the support in response to rotation of the take-off arm in the uncoiling operation and the passage of the wire therethrough, a coil spring at the lower end of the take-ofi arm arranged to be vibrated by the action of the wire thereon and thus to assist in loosening each convolution of the wire as it is uncoiled, and a retractable latch cooperating with said spindle to prevent vertical movement of the spindle on said support during the uncoiling operation.

7. In a wire uncoiling apparatus a support for a loosely wound coil of wire, a rotatable take-01f arm having an outlet end and an inlet end movable around the coil of wire, the inlet end of said take-oil arm being freely movable relatively to the outlet end Widthwise of the coil in the uncoiling operation to accommodate the arm to varying widths and eccentricities of the convolutions of wire in the coil.

8. In a wire uncoiling apparatus a support for a loosely wound coil of wire, a tubular take-off arm mounted to rotate about an axis substantially central of a coil of wire on the support, the intake end of the take-off arm being arranged to move around the coil of wire in response to the rotation of the take-off arm in the uncoiling operation, and means connecting the inlet end portion of the take-off arm to the outlet end portion for movement relatively thereto in any direction transversely of the wire.

9. In a wire uncoiling apparatus a support for a loosely wound coil of wire, a rotatable take-ofi arm having an outlet end and an inlet end movable around the coil of wire, said take-off arm having a flexible, resilient portion connecting the inlet and outlet end portions of the arm and permitting the inlet end portion to move relatively to the outlet end portion in all directions transversely of the entering wire during the uncoiling operation.

10. In a wire uncoiling apparatus a support for a loosely wound coil of wire, a rotatable take-off arm having an outlet end and an inlet end movable around the coil of wire, and a coil spring adjacent to the inlet end and connecting the inlet end to the rest of the take-off arm for movement relatively thereto in any direction transversely of the wire as it enters the inlet end.

11. Uncoiling apparatus of the character described including, in combination, a normally fixed reel for supporting coil wire, a fixed spindle disposed axially of the reel, a revoluble support journaled on the spindle, a guide tube secured to said support comprising an axial wire delivering portion and an outer wire receiving portion, and a, wire guide ring flexibly secured to the receiving portion of said tube.

12. Uncoiling apparatus of the character described including, in combination, a normally fixed reel for supporting coiled wire, a fixed spindle disposed axially of the reel, a revoluble support journaled on the spindle, a guide tube secured to said support comprising an axial wire delivering portion and an outer wire receiving portion, a spring secured to said receiving portion, and a guide ring secured to the spring at a point remote from its point of attachment to the tube.

13. Uncoiling apparatus of the character described including, in combination, a normally fixed reel for supporting coiled wire, a fixed spindle disposed axially of the reel, a support rotatably mounted on said spindle, a guide tube secured to said support and having a wire delivering portion disposed in substantial alignment with the axis of the guide spindle, said tube having an outer wire receiving portion whose extremity extends circumferentially in juxtaposition to the periphery of the coil of wire supported by said reel, the wire receiving portion of the tube having a flexible tension member secured thereto, and a ring secured to said member and adapted to exert a gentle tension on the wire being uncoiled from said reel as a result of the flexing of said tension member.

14. Uncoiling apparatus of the character described including, in combination, a normally fixed reel for supporting coiled wire, a fixed spindle disposed axially of the reel, a revoluble support journaled on the spindle, a guide tube secured to said support comprising an axial wire delivering portion and an outer wire receiving portion, said receiving end of the tube having a helically coiled spring secured thereto, and a ring CHARLES R. ROHWEDER. 

